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RATIONALE: Giving high-dose chemotherapy before an autologous stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer cells by stopping them from dividing or by killing them. An autologous stem cell transplant may be able to replace the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. GM-CSF may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Giving a monoclonal antibody, such as rituximab, after the transplant may find any remaining cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Giving GM-CSF together with rituximab after autologous stem cell transplant may be an effective treatment for follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving GM-CSF together with rituximab after autologous stem cell transplant works in treating patients with relapsed or primary refractory follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

To assess the progression-free survival rate at 2 years after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed or primary refractory follicular lymphoma treated with sargramostim (GM-CSF) and rituximab after ASCT.

Secondary

To assess the safety of administering GM-CSF and rituximab after ASCT.

To assess the effects of GM-CSF on the relative expression of activating and inhibitory FcγR on circulating monocytes.

To assess the effects of GM-CSF on the relative expression of activating and inhibitory FcγR on circulating dendritic cells.

High-dose chemotherapy: Patients receive carmustine IV over 2 hours on day -7, etoposide IV over 1 hour and cytarabine IV every 12 hours on days -6 to -3, and melphalan IV on day -2.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT): Patients undergo ASCT on day 0. Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously (SC) once a day beginning on day 5 and continuing until blood counts recover.

Sargramostim (GM-CSF) and rituximab: Beginning approximately 7-10 weeks (49-70 days) after ASCT, patients receive GM-CSF SC 3 times a week for 8 weeks and rituximab IV once weekly for 4 weeks (beginning within 3 days after the first dose of GM-CSF). Patients receive a second course of GM-CSF and rituximab (as above) beginning approximately 22-26 weeks (154-182 days) after ASCT.

After the completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for 2 years.

GM-CSF: 250 mcg (flat dose) three times per week for 8 weeks, administered on alternate days. Thus, 24 doses of GM-CSF will be administered.

Rituximab: 375 mg/m2/week for 4 weeks, beginning within 3 days after the first dose of GM-CSF; rituximab. The second course of GM-CSF and rituximab will be administered approximately 22-26 weeks (day +154 to +182) after ASCT.

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